Lens



Nov. 12, 1929. H. M. NELSON LENS ' Filed Oct.

gwuent'o'o flenry PEI son abtozmgs Patented Nov. 12, 1929 UNITED STATESPATENT OFFICE HENRY M. NELSON, F MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA, ASSIGNOR TOGEORGE B. SHAW, I on EAU CLAIRE, WISCONSIN motor vehicle.

LENS

Application filed October 7, 1926. Serial No. 140,070.

My invention relates to lenses for use in conjunction with head lights,and particularly automobile head lights, and has for its object toprovide a lens adapted to reduce the glare usually prevalent withautomobile head lights, employing a parabolic or similar reflector. 7

Another object of the invention resides in providing a lens formed witha circular plate having issuing inwardly therefrom apair of concentrictubular deflectors, said deflectors being constructed with the upperportionsof the surfaces thereof as mirrors to deflect rays of lightapproaching the same from the interior thereof downwardly so as toprevent the undesirable glare now existing with the ordinary type ofhead light.

Another object of the invention resides in constructing the lens with aring like portion protruding outwardly beyond the lens holder forbringing the deflectors away from the light source and for permittingthe projection of the light raysupon the roadad acent the curb orgutter."

lVith the foregoing and other objects in view, which will appear in thefollowing description, the invention resides in the novel combinationand arrangement of parts and in the details of construction hereinafterdescribed and claimed.

In the. drawings illustrating my invention Fig. 1 is a longitudinalsectional view of a headlight illustrating my improved lens attachedthereto. I

Fig. 2 is a rear elevational view of my 1mproved lens detached fromthe'headlight.

For the purpose'of illustrating the application of the invention, I haveshown an ordinary head light A constructed with a shell like case 10open at the forward end and provided with an internally extending flange11. The case 10 is mounted upon any suitable support 12 by means ofwhich the head light may be supported on the chassis of the Within thecase 10 is positioned a parabolic reflector 13 formed with a flange 14adapted to overlie the flange 11 of said case. This parabolic reflectorhas attached to it along the axis thereof a. light 3 socket 15 adaptedto receive an electric light of the lens and hold the same in positionin the front of the head light.

The lens proper indicated in its entirety at B is preferably constructedof glass or some other suitable transparent material and comprisesprimarily a body portion formed with a circular face 18. Along themargin of this face is constructed an inwardly extending ring likeportion which terminates in an outwardly extending flange 21. The ringlike portion 20 is of such a size as to snugly pass through the openingthrough the rim 17 I of the lens holder 16, while the flange 21 is soproportioned as to overlie the flange 14 of the reflector 13. Inmounting the lens a cushion: ing gasket 22 is employed which ispositioned between flange 14 of the reflector 13 and the flange 21 ofthe lens proper. I I

lVithin the interior of the lens B are arranged two concentric tubulardeflectors 23 and 24 preferably constructed integral with the face 18.These deflectors are of such length that the deflector 24 which is thelarger in diameter projects inwardly beyond the flange 21 of the lensand so that the deflector 23 which is of lesser diameter than thedeflector 24 extends inwardly beyond the edge of said last nameddeflector. These tubular deflectors are arranged concentricto oneanother as well as concentric to the ring like portion 20. The outersurfaces of the upper halves of each of the tubular deflectors 23 and 24are coated with some suitable silver preparation to provide mirrors onsuch surfaces adapted to reflect rays impinging upon the inner surfacesof the same. These mirrors are indicated at 25 and 26 in the drawings.The remaining surfaces of the tubular deflectors 23 and 24 arepreferably frosted as indicated at 27 and 28, though the same may beconstructed of clear glass, if desired. In adoition to the frosting ofthe said deflectors, the ring like portion 20 is preferably frosted, asindicated at 37 from a point 38 at the lowermost portion of the same andaround the left hand side of the lens and above the upper portion,leaving the balance of the said ring like portion of clear glass. Inaddition the face B may be frosted for a portion of the upper parthereofas indicated at 30 betweenthe ring like portion 20 of the deflector 2%.Such frosting tends to reduce the glare from the reflector, though thesame is not absolutely essential to the successful. operation of theinvention. 7

The 01 oration of my, improved lens is as follows: Vlhcn the lens ismounted in a suit able head light, as indicated at Fig. l, the ra s oflight from the bulb 19, w ich extend outwardly and rearwardly from thesame, are r flocked by meansof the reflector 13 to proiect from saidreflector in parallel relation to the axis thereof passing freelythrough the annular portions of the face 18 of lens B between therespective tubular deflectors 23 and 24and the ring like portion 20. Thecentral portion of the rays wnich pro ect forwardly from the bulb 19 arecaused to project directly through the circular space 31 of the face 18situated within the interior of the tubular deflector Since only a smallproportion of such rays are allowed to pass directly through the lens,the upwardly directed portion thereof is very small and at the same timedue to the diameter of the said deflector, the upward inclination of thesame is so slight as. to prevent the same from reaching the. vision ofapproaching drivers and pedestrians. The remaining portion of the ravsof light emanating in an outward direction and directed upwardly areintercepted by the mirrors 25 and 26 of the ,deflectors 23 and Q l andcaused to be deflected downwardly and out of vision. Due to the frostingof the ring like portion QO, the small percentage of direct raysreaching the same are caused to be diffused along the frosted surface 27so as to eliminate the glare therefrom. The downwaroly exten from thebulb 19 pass through the lower halves of the tubular deflectors 23 andll, where they strike the road and serve in the desired manner. In theparticular form of the invention 1 have shown the lower surface of saiddeflectors as frosted so that rays pass ing therethrough are diffused.It can however, readily be comprehended that said lower halves may bemade of clear glass so as to allow the free passage of the lighttherethrough, or the same may be entirely omitted, if found preferable.The portion of the rays passing through the clear part of the ring likeportion 20 are directed to the side of the.

road wherethe sameilluminate the curb and the gutter, while the motorvehicle is travelling, so as to enable the operator to have a clearvision of the side of the road as well as the road ahead of him.

The invention provides a simple and efl'ecive head light lens adapted tominimize the glare from the reflector and source of. light wi houtappreciably diminishing the amount of light passing through the lens.This has the effect of increasing the ehiciency ofthe head light whileat the same time permits a safe approach to'the vehicle. By means of thering like portion formed on the lens, sufiicient light may be cast tothe side of the road as to illuminate the gutter or curb and inform thedriver of the condition of the side of the road as well as of the roadin front of him.

Changes in the specific form of my inven tion, as herein disclosed, maybe made within one scope of what is claimed without departing from thespirit of my invention.

Having described my invention, what I claim as new and desireto protectby Letters Patent is l. A head light lens comprising a flangeforattachment inv a lens holder, a. ring like port-i n connected witlr saidflange and issu ing outwardly beyond the lens holder, a circular plateconnectedwith. said ring. like portion and pair of concentric tubulardeflectors centrally situatedwith respect to said plate and ring likeportion, said deflectors isaway from said plate and toward the source oflight, the larger of said deflectors being longer than said ring likeportion, and the smaller of said. deflectors being longer than thelarger deflector, both of said deflectors being. formed with mirrorsupon the urfaces of the upper halves. thereof for causlight raysapproaching the same to-be delected downwardly.

1119115 comprising a circular plate and a tubular deflectorconcentrically positioned relative thereto and issuing away from saidplate tOVcl'd the source of light, said tubular deflector being. formedwith a mirror upon t 1e surface of the upper half thereof for defleetingrays of light approaching the same along the interior thereof in adownward direction, the lower half of said deflector'being formedtranslucent.

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specification.

HENRY M. NELSON.

